[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 161 (Friday, August 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51956-51957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21239]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Environmental Impact Report for a Permit Application for the 
Proposed Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project at the Salton 
Sea, in Imperial County, CA

AGENCY: Department of the Army--U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los 
Angeles District, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District 
(Regulatory Division), in coordination with the California Natural 
Resources Agency, has completed a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Salton Sea Species 
Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project. The Natural Resources Agency is 
requesting a permit from the Corps of Engineers to discharge dredged or 
fill material into the Salton Sea, a water of the United States subject 
to the Corps jurisdiction under section 404 of the Clean Water Act, 
including permanent impacts up to 24 acres and temporary impacts up to 
1,760 acres for the construction of up to 3,770 acres of shallow ponds 
and associated infrastructure at the southern end of the Salton Sea in 
Imperial County, California. Compared to existing conditions, the SCH 
Project would result in a net increase in the extent of jurisdictional 
aquatic resources by up to 1,986 acres because the ponds would restore 
such resources located between elevation -228 feet and -231 feet 
previously lost by the receding Sea.
    Draft EIS/EIR Comment Process. In an effort to follow sustainable 
business practices, the Draft EIS/EIR can be downloaded in electronic 
format from the Natural Resources Agency--Department of Water 
Resources' Web site: http://www.water.ca.gov/saltonsea/ saltonsea/. A hardcopy of 
the Draft EIS/EIR and documents referenced in the Draft EIS/EIR can be 
viewed at the following location: California Department of Fish and 
Game, 78078 Country Club Drive, Suite 109, Bermuda Dunes, CA 92203. In 
addition, the hardcopy Draft EIS/EIR can be viewed at the following 
public locations: Brawley Public Library, 400 Main Street, Brawley, CA 
92227; Calipatria Public Library, 225 West Main Street, Calipatria, CA 
92233; Imperial Public Library, 200 West 9th Street, Imperial, CA 
92251; El Centro Public Library, 375 South 1st Street, El Centro, CA 
92243; Imperial County Free Library, 2098 Frontage Road, Salton City, 
CA 92275; Mecca-North Shore Public Library, 91-260 Avenue 66, Mecca, CA 
92254; and Coachella Branch Library, 1538 7th Street, Coachella, CA 
92236.
    The Corps and the Natural Resources Agency invites interested 
parties to attend one of the jointly held public hearings to provide 
the agencies with their views and comments on the Draft EIS/EIR. 
Comments on the content of the Draft EIS/EIR by Federal, State, and 
local agencies, affected Indian tribes, and other interested 
organizations and persons are encouraged and will be considered by the 
Corps and the Natural Resources Agency and become part of the 
administrative record for the Corps' decision. The public hearings will 
be held at:
    1. Calipatria--September 14, 2011 at 1 P.M. at the Calipatria Inn 
and Suites, 700 North Sorenson Avenue, Calipatria, CA 92233.
    2. Brawley--September 14, 2011 at 6 P.M. at Elks Lodge 
1420, 161 South Plaza, Brawley, CA 92227.
    3. Palm Desert-- September 15, 2011 at 1 P.M. at the University of 
California, 75-080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Room B200, Palm Desert, CA 
92211.
    In order for the Corps and the Natural Resources Agency to more 
accurately process and respond to comments, an online e-form is 
provided on the Natural Resources Agency--Department of Water 
Resources' Web site http://www.water.ca.gov/saltonsea/ and is the 
preferred method of receiving comments from interested parties. 
Alternatively, written comment letters can be provided directly to Ms. 
Lanika Cervantes or Mr. David Elms at the addresses listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Written comments concerning the Draft 
EIS/EIR should be directed to Ms. Lanika Cervantes, Project Manager, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Regulatory 
Division, San Diego Field Office, ATTN: CESPL-RG-S-2010-00142-LLC, 6010 
Hidden Valley Road, Suite 105, Carlsbad, CA 92011, (760) 602-4838. 
Comments also can be directed to: Mr. David Elms, California Department 
of Fish and Game Project Manager, California Department of Fish

[[Page 51957]]

and Game, 78078 Country Club Drive, Suite 109, Bermuda Dunes, CA 92203, 
(760) 200-9372. For additional information, please call Rick Davis of 
the Davis Group at (760) 610-2072 or e-mail 
[email protected]. Alternatively, you may contact the 
Corps and DFG project managers identified above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Draft EIS/EIR has been filed with the 
Environmental Protection Agency to be published in the Federal 
Register. The review period for the Draft EIS/EIR will begin from the 
date of publishing the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, 
which is expected to be on August 17, 2011. Comments on the Draft EIS/
EIR will be accepted 60 days later, until October 17, 2011.

    Dated: August 8, 2011.
R. Mark Toy, P.E.,
Colonel, US Army, Commander and District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 2011-21239 Filed 8-18-11; 8:45 am]
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